-2-
3. I commented frankly on these specific. points using material contained in Hong Kong telegrams 08 and 09 to me. But this evidently gave no comfort to the inister for Foreign Affairs who went on to make much of his own efforts and those of his ministry to minimise the effect of the Hong Kong Government's action.. He earnestly appealed to his Majesty's Government to do what they could on their side to prevent the matter from harming Sino-British relations.
4. I said that while I was confident that. he and his Ministry were anxious to avoid any deterioration in our relations, it was clear that the matter was being artificially exaggerated and worked up by irresponsible elements. As he had officially asked me to transmit his request to His Majesty's Government I would naturally do so. I was sure that His Majesty's Government would give it serious consideration but I doubted very much whether they would be ready to intervene with the Government of Hong Kong in what was a matter of local administration.
50
11
Minister for Foreign Affairs retorted that there was not only a legal aspect but also a political aspect of the matter. In Hong Kong a British administration was governing an alien population. I replied that he could rest assured that the latter aspect of the matter was a constant preoccupation of His Majesty's Government.
6.
The interview was friendly, though I showed little sympathy with the case put forward by the Minister. I must admit that he seemed genuinely perturbed.
(4)+
7. I should be grateful for early instructions on the reply you wish to return to those representations. I suggest it should contain a rejection of the Chinese claim to jurisdiction, a refusal to interfere with the Governor's measures to maintain public order coupled with an assurance that force will only be used if the police are prevented from doing their duty and finally an official reply to the specific points mentioned in paragraph 2(b) above. You might also consider the desirability of giving publicity to the matter by means of a Parliamentary Question to be answered on lines of Hong Kong tulegrams 9 and 10 to me.
6 6 6 6 6
(5) + (6)
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